Improved can-opener



L UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

O. J. LIVERMORE, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF ANDCLARK, SAWYER &J CO., OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVED CAN-OPENER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 55,878, dated June 26,1866.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that l, O. J. LIVERMORE, of the city and county ot'Worcester, and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Can-Openers; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description ot' the same,reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part ot' thisspecitication, in which- Figure 1 represents a perspective view of myimproved can-opener, and Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal centralsection ot' the cau-opener when applied to use in opening or removingthe cover from a can, the upper partot' the latter being shown insection to illustrate more fully my' invention.

[n the drawings, A represents my device, in which B is the handle, C thepart which passes over the top of the can, having an inclined lip, D,projecting down from its lower side. A curved projectingpiece, E,extends from the center, and is provided with a sharp angular edge orlip, a, all as shown in the drawings.

ln Fig.2, F represents the upper part of one of Lymans patent calls, Gthe rubber or elastic ring or packing, which fits into the groove b,formed 011 the outer surface ot' the can, as indicated in the drawings.

H represents the cover, which is usually made ot tin.

One great objection to the use ot' the abovedescribed can, known asLymans patentcam7 is that the cover H cannot be conveniently removed 5and although a groove is made in such a manner that a pin or somesharp-pointed instrument can be inserted under the packingring G toadmit air, in practice it is found that the cover H often adheres soclosely, by reason of corrosion and other causes, that it cannot beremoved without the use of considerable force, even after the air hasbeen admittedv within the can, as above stated.

In trying to remove the -cover under such circumstances persons withoutproper conveniences at hand for the purpose often injure their fingersand nails. The dit'ticulty ot opening it is urged as a strong objectionto the can, which otherwise is regarded as one ot' the best forpreserving fruit from the air.

By myinvention all of the above objections are obviated, While it is notabsolutely necessary to admit the air in order to remove the cover,though it can be removed more easily by lirst admitting the air.

The operation is as follows: Handle B is clasped by the hand and thedevice placed upon the cover H with the angular edge a under the edgeVof the cover upon" one side'ot' the can, while the inclined lip D restsupon the upper outer' edge of the cover, all as shown in the drawings inblack and yellow lines, Fig. 2. Handle B is now raised, which causes theinclined lip D to force the cover down and toward the can on that side,while the angular lip a elevates the other side of the cover, as shownin red lines. l

lt will thus be seen that covers to this class otl cans can be easilyand safely removed by the aid of my device.

Having described my improved device, what I claim therein as ot' myinvention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent as a new article ofmanufacture, is-

A can-opener constructed substantially as above described.

O. J. LIVERMORE.

Witnesses THos. H. DODGE, H. L. FULLER.

